Portable bath-mat.



J. F. SPENGE; PORTABLE BATH MAT. APPLICATION FILED MAB..28, 1911.

1,016,374; Patented Feb.6,1912.

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Witnes ses Inventor I I I o Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H COHWASHINGION' I). c.

JAMES F. SPENGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PORTABLE BATH-MAT.

Specification of Iletters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Application filed March 28, 1911. Serial N 0. 617,410.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. SPENoE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Portable Bath-Mat, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a bath mat which may readily be gathered up, to hold the contained moisture, without danger of spilling the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of frame upon which the covering is placed, the construction of the frame being such that it may be readily folded up into compact form, the frame, moreover, beingso fashioned that it cannot tip over, when trodden upon.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a novel means whereby the covering may be gathered together, to form a receptacle.

With the foregoing. and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective, showing the device spread out and in use, parts being broken'away; Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the covering gathered up into the form of a receptacle; Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective showing one of the frame members folded together; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the element depicted in Fig. 3.

In carrying out the invention there is provided as a primary and fundamental element, a frame, denoted generally by the numeral 1. This frame consists of a plurality of disconnected members 2, each of the members 2 consisting of elements 3 and 4, to the end faces 5 of which a hinge 6 is secured. The elements 8 and 4 are triangular in cross section, and when they are folded together, as in the showing of Fig. 3, the resulting structure, as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, will be of square outline. Ordinarily there are four of the members 2, and noting Fig. 4, it will be seen that these four members, when folded up as shown in Fig. 3, may be placed side by side to form a compact square package, about which the covering hereinafter referred to, may be wrapped.

There is a twofold advantage in fashioning the elements 8 and 4 of triangular cross section. In the first place, as hereinbefore pointed out, it enables these members to be folded up and disposed in compact form. Again, noting Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the covering 7 is spread over the frame 1, and the device is in use, the members 2 of the frame 1 will not readily overturn, when trodden upon. This feature is of importance, when it is recalled that the central portion of the covering 7, which is depressed within the frame 1, ordinarily contains a considerable amount of accumulated moisture.

As hereinbefore stated, the covering 7 is spread over the frame 1. This covering 7 is provided, about its periphery, with a plurality of gromets 8. When the covering 7 is of square form, as shown, a gromet is located at each corner of the covering, and other gromets are located between the corners, so as to divide the edges of the covering into substantially equal segments. Through the gromets 8, the ends of flexible members 9 are looped, as shown at 20. The intermediate portions of the flexible members 9 are looped through a ring 10, located adjacent the center of the covering 7, when the same is distended as shown in Fig. 1.

' It will be readily understood that a person may stand upon the covering 7 to perform his ablutions, the drip water accumulating in that portion of the covering 7 which is depressed within the contour of the frame 1.

After the occasion for the use of the structure has passed, the operator may seize the ring 10, lifting the same upward, and elevating simultaneously, the entire periphery of the covering 7, the covering 7 being thus disposed in the bag-like form shown in Fig. 2. The ring 10 constitutes means for carrying away the covering 7, when disposed as shown in Fig. 2, and by tilting one edge of the covering 7, spouts may be formed therein, through which the accumulated water may be poured away.

Owing to the fact that the flexible members 9 are looped through the ring 10, slidably, any portion of the periphery of the covering 7, when disposed as shown in Fig.

2, may be pressed downward, to form the de livery spout. Owing to the fact that the relatively heavy ring 10 rests upon the coving 7 adjacent the center thereof, when the device is in use, as shown in Fig. 1, the ring, together with the flexible members 9, constitute a means for depressing the central portion of the covering 7, to receive the moisture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is Y A device of the class described comprising a frame fashioned from straight disconnected members, each member consisting of terminallyhinged elements, each of which elements is of triangular cross section; a covering adapted to be superposed upon the frame; flexible members secured at their ends to the covering, adjacent the periphery of the covering; and a ring through which all. of the flexible members are looped to slide freely.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. SPENCE.

Witnesses:

F. B. OCI-ISENREITER, LENA VVILLSON.

rcopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0t Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

